52 HKRLINO OF THE SOLWAY FOUND IN THB TWEED. 



proportion average from 1 Ib. to l Ib. One of the most marked appear- 

 ances of this fish, is the great proportional breadth of the back, and the 

 peculiar greyish-green colour of the upper parts. This colour appears 

 very conspicuous when seen before the water has completely ebbed from 

 the stake-nets, when the fish swim near the surface ; and when small sea- 

 trout are mixed with them, the contrast is at once perceived. The dis- 

 tribution of this fish in Scotland, as far as it can be with certainty traced, 

 is pretty extensive ; the south and west coasts, however, seem to possess 

 the greatest abundance. Commencing at the Solway, we meet it in 

 great abundance as far as the Dee at Kirkcudbright, from thence we lose 

 it till the mouth of Loch Awe at Loch Etian in Argyllshire, from this it is 

 common along the whole of the west coast. On the east it is plentifully 

 found at Inverness, and I have traced it at Peterhead, but from this point 

 to the Tweed, I have been unable to hear of it. Wales is the only dis- 

 trict in the south where it will probably be found thus following the west 

 coast, and the sewin will most likely prove our Scottish hirling or whit- 

 ing. It has not yet been noticed in any part of Ireland. 



Regarding this fish being occasionally found in the Tweed, it seems 

 to vary in the gregarious habit, comparatively few being met with. Among 

 the tacksmen the Solway name was not known, but upon describing the 

 fish to them, they at once referred it to their silver white- The matter 

 was, however, soon proved, by having the good fortune to catch one 

 when fishing salmon with Stevenson, the tacksman of the Crown fishing. 

 We had made frequent inquiries at the different tacksmen regarding it, 

 and when the fish rose, Stevenson at once called out that it was a silver 

 white, shewing that he was perfectly acquainted with it. It correspond- 

 ed with all the characters of the Solway fish, having the same number of 

 vertebrae, rays in the fins, and gill-covers, &c. 



As far as I can learn, they are not abundant in the Tweed. They 

 are perfectly well known at Coldstream, and are taken with whitling flies ; 

 and Stevenson mentioned having once taken about fifty opposite Birg- 

 ham in one draft of a sweep-net. I have been unable, however, to trace 

 them farther up than Kelso, and though fishing much with suitable flies, 

 I have never seen them in the higher waters of Dryburgh or Morton. 

 The stream of the Tweed and larger rivers may probably be too heavy 

 and powerful for them, and it is probable that the great proportion of 

 those which do enter the Tweed will diverge at the spawning season to 

 the smaller tributaries. 



